Heating element for reductant tank

Abstract

A removable heating element is disclosed. The removable heating element includes a resistive filament. The removable heating element also includes a housing. The housing is connected to the resistive filament. The housing is configured to be coupled to a drain port of a reductant tank. The removable heating element also includes a receptacle provided on the housing. The receptacle is configured to be connected to an external power supply.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable heating element comprising:
 a resistive filament;   a housing connected to the resistive filament, the housing configured to couple to a drain port of a reductant tank; and   a receptacle provided on the housing, the receptacle configured to connect to an external power supply.   
     
     
         2 . The removable heating element of  claim 1 , wherein the resistive filament is made of at least one of copper or steel. 
     
     
         3 . The removable heating element of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an anti-corrosive coating provided on the resistive filament. 
 
     
     
         4 . The removable heating element of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a number of threads corresponding to a plurality of threads provided on the drain port. 
     
     
         5 . The removable heating element of  claim 1 , wherein the removable heating element is positioned at a bottom portion of the reductant tank. 
     
     
         6 . An aftertreatment system comprising:
 a reductant tank;   a coolant heater associated with the reductant tank, the coolant heater configured to circulate a coolant through the reductant tank; and   a supplemental heating element associated with the reductant tank, the supplemental heating element comprising:
 a resistive filament; 
 a housing connected to the resistive filament, the housing configured to couple to a drain port of the reductant tank; and 
 a receptacle provided on the housing, the receptacle configured to connect to an external power supply. 
   
     
     
         7 . The aftertreatment system of  claim 6 , wherein the resistive filament is made of at least one of copper or steel. 
     
     
         8 . The aftertreatment system of  claim 6 , wherein the heating element further comprises an anti-corrosive coating provided on the resistive filament. 
     
     
         9 . The aftertreatment system of  claim 6 , wherein the supplemental heating element is positioned at a bottom portion of the reductant tank. 
     
     
         10 . The aftertreatment system of  claim 6 , wherein the supplemental heating element is threadably coupled to the reductant tank. 
     
     
         11 . A method for controlling a temperature of a reductant in a reductant tank, the method comprising:
 coupling a heating element to a drain port of the reductant tank;   connecting the heating element to an external power supply; and   thawing the reductant based on the connection.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein supplying the power to the supplemental heating element is independent of an operation of an engine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising:
 circulating a coolant through the reductant tank. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising;
 uninstalling the heating element from the drain port of the reductant tank. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 draining the reductant from the reductant tank based on the uninstallation of the heating element.